Reddit Makefile for Windows 7: A Misconception Debunked

The notion that CMake is only a 'build generator' is a common misconception among developers, especially those who are used to working with GNU-Make on Unix-based systems. However, this statement does not accurately describe what CMake actually does.

In reality, CMake is a build system generator, which means it can produce various build files for different platforms and development environments. This makes your project more future-proof, as you can easily switch between different build systems or IDEs without having to rewrite your Makefiles from scratch.

CMake provides several useful features that make it an attractive choice for developers who want to create platform-independent projects. These features include dependency detection, library interface management, and integration with CTest, CDash, and CPack. Additionally, CMake can produce build files for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Unix, and embedded systems.

For developers who work on multi-platform projects, CMake is an excellent choice because it allows you to create a single CMakeLists.txt file that can be used to generate build files for different platforms. This means you can use the same starting point to produce Makefiles, Ninja build files, KDEvelop or Xcode projects, and Visual Studio solutions.

In summary, CMake is not just a 'build generator' but rather a build system generator that provides a wide range of features and flexibility. It is an ideal choice for developers who want to create platform-independent projects that can be easily built on different platforms using various development environments.

Reddit makefile for windows 7